The grey doors slammed open and Gabriella slowed her pace. Because her tears almost blinded her, she stumbled a bit across the clean wooden floor. Hugging her notebook tightly she walked up the bleachers. She sat at the top row in the very corner where nobody would see her if she walked in. As hard as she tried to stop crying, she couldn't.

As if she wasn't already an outcast, now everybody knew about her feelings for Troy. They weren't even entirely feelings. It was a first impression that they had perceived as love. She could never love a jock, especially one that was surrounded by cheerleaders and other popular figures. Her parents believed that they had done the right thing but they had no idea how much this had hurt her. She made up stories to keep them happy and proud for they were suffering enough, but she couldn't hold it in; it was too much.

She couldn't remember a night when her mother hadn't cried or her father hadn't gone out for a drive because he didn't want for his family to see him cry. It was difficult. If only he hadn't left, the noise of a foot kicking a soccer ball would flood her ears every time she went to the backyard. If he had not died they all would've been one big happy family. But he had gotten into that car with that stupid worthless girl; a cheerleader. She was the source for her hate towards them. If he hadn't been with that girl that night, he wouldn't have crashed. He wouldn't have died and he wouldn't have left them.

"Gabriella." She could hear her voice being called but she didn't answer. Gabriella stood still wiping away the tears and hoping that the redness from her face would die down. She had already been embarrassed enough, she didn't need to add to it. "Gabriella?" his voice creeped into her ears.

Troy saw her at the top bleacher staring down at her shoes. He rushed to the top passing his hand on the smooth metallic pole unsure of whether or not he should say anything. He finally came to the top bleachers and slowly made his way over to her. Flattered by her poem, he didn't believe it was the right time to talk to her about it. "Gabriella? I'm sorry."

"It's not you." She burst out gritting her teeth angrily at how conceited he was. "It's not them either."

Troy was confused at this point. "Then what is it?"

She looked at him searching his eyes for understanding. She wouldn't tell him of Vick, then rumors would spread. Gabriella just stared at him with her tear-stained face, expecting him to know. He didn't and he never would. "Nothing."

"You're crying because of nothing?" he asked her.

"No."

"Then why are you?" His leg was touching hers and he put his hand on her back trying to comfort her. But it didn't work. She continued to stare down at her shoes. "If you're crying because of what that girl said just forget her. She has nothing better to do."

"I told you; it's not her. I wouldn't shed a tear for her." Gabriella scoffed.

"So you aren't going to tell me?" Troy asked. Gabriella shook her head. "Nobody is going to tell me why this beautiful girl in front of me is crying like there's no tomorrow?" he teased trying to get a smile out of her. A small one escaped her lips but that's it. That's all he needed from her, to know that she did want him there. He put his arm fully around her and hugged her so that her head was against his chest. She wiped her face to stop from crying and just stayed there in his arms.

Sitting there with him

I felt like I fit in

Nothing would bring me harm

There was no need to be alarmed

He held me tight

And it felt so right

Even though nobody else sees

All that matters is him and me

There he goes so perfectly

The kind of flawless I wish I could be

HSM..HSM..HSM..HSM...HSM..HSM..HSM..HSM..HSM

Gabriella went out to her backyard realizing it had been the first time she was there since Vick's death. She let the wind blow her hair out of her face and she breathed in the smell of the grass and of the sunset. She let it take her away. Opening her eyes, she saw Vick's old soccer ball in the middle of the yard. It was one of his many soccer balls, this one was bought only about three years ago. She smiled down on it remembered his amazing skill with it.

His passion for soccer had classified him into a jock but he wasn't cold hearted like most of them were. He didn't do it for the girls or the popularity, but for the love of the game. She remembered he had been offered a scholarship in England to play, but before he could go the accident happened. If it weren't for that, he would've been in England this very moment.

---Flashback---

"Vick, give it back! I want to play, too!" said a small little girl. She was about six years old, trying to persuade her brother to let her in on his game.

"I have to practice!" he explained to her. Although eight at the time, Vick was very determined and committed to the sport.

He started juggling the ball on his knees then cradling it with his foot; he truly had a gift. On one of those bounces, his little sister, Gabriella, took the ball and ran off with it. Vick unknowing of what had happened until he saw his little sister's blue dress blowing in the wind, now went after her. Since he was a soccer player, he was fast for his age and caught up to her in a matter of seconds.

"Give me the ball, Gabriella!" they both had their hands on it and tugged both ways. Gabriella let go and she crossed her arms. Vick anticipated the tears to come down her eyes any second now. "Fine. I will let you play with me, but you can't be such a baby!"

"I am not a baby!" she said childishly and Vick rolled his eyes. He placed the ball down on the ground and gave it a soft kick so that it would reach his sister lightly. It stood at her feet and with all her strength she hit it at Vick and it went into the air. He skillfully stuck out his leg and prevented it from going anywhere else but the ground in front of him. Gabriella was amazed by the sight and stood as she saw her brother kick it back.

A referee blew his whistle and Vick excitedly picked up the ball and ran towards his team waiting for the game to start. Ana went over to her little girl and took her hand, leading her to a blanket on the grass where they would watch Vick. Her father had a video camera in his hands taping the game. It was the first game of the season and as usual, the whole Montez family came to watch.

Vick played the forward position and their team had kick off. The ball began to roll and the nine and eight year old boys watched the ball attentively waiting to make a play. Vick didn't wait like most of them did, he raced towards the ball. He passed it to his teammate who started to lose control of the ball but kicked it in Vick's direction. Vick took the ball and ran with all his might towards the goal, the other team running behind him. He came closer and closer and then it was time to shoot. He did, and the ball went in. Vick's reaction was to raise his hands in the air and then he ran with his arms outstretched yelling, "Goal!"

He watched as his little sister jumped up and down screaming 'goal' along with him. She had a huge smile on her face and wanted to go and hug her brother but her parents wouldn't allow her, too. Mr. Montez yelled encouragingly and Mrs. Montez clapped her hands with a smile on her face.

---End Flashback---

Now his soccer ball stood before her, still it hadn't been moved. She walked towards it and placed her foot next to it and kicked it to the side so that it rolled very slowly. It was in a position so that you could see his name in thick permanent marker on the ball. 'Vick Montez' it said. She took the muddy ball in her hands and brushed off some of the dirt. She stared at it and finally went inside, placing it in her room.

HSM..HSM..HSM..HSM..HSM..HSM...HSM...HSM..HSM..HSM..HSM..HSM

"Gabriella, right?" said Taylor McKessie as she stood next to Gabriella's locker. It had been difficult to return to school after what had happened. The cheerleaders couldn't help but laugh every time they saw her face and Gabriella simply looked away. It wasn't only the cruel cheerleaders, it was every body else. Now they noticed her but for the wrong reasons.

"Yes." She said walking down towards her math class, where Taylor was also headed.

"Sorry about what happened yesterday. That girl drives me off the wall." Taylor said with a frustrated voice. Her hands were forming fists and Gabriella saw that she wasn't the only one that hated the popular crowd at the school. "But the poem she read, that was yours right?" she asked now with a more relaxed tone.

"Yes."

Taylor smiled. "It was beautiful. Even if it was about a lunkhead like Troy; it was great."

"Troy's not a lunkhead." Gabriella corrected and Taylor looked at her astonishingly. "I don't like him that way. But he was nice to me." She explained.

"I'm sure he is." She said sarcastically. "Anyway, I know that you've been trying to make friends and you haven't really had one since the, what, four weeks you've been here?" Gabriella nodded. "I think that you should give some of your stuff to Kelsi, the composer for the Musicale and she will help make them songs. You'll be part of the drama club and there's lots of nice people there."

"Thanks, but no. I don't write music; I write poetry. It's different." Gabriella said trying not to sound rude. They entered the classroom and Gabriella put her books down on a desk in the front row. Math wasn't her best subject and it was imperative that she stayed focus.

"Tell me if you change your mind." Taylor said. She walked off to where her friends were and left Gabriella alone. She was used to being alone by now.

Review, please. Tell me what else you'd like to see in the story. That last line in the poem'there he goes so perfectly, the kind of flawless I wish I could be' was taken from Taylor Swift's song, Teardrops on my Guitar. I do not own that. I do not own High School Musical or it's actors. I just own this plot and I wish I owned Zac Efron. But that's okay; I'll live.